19 Apr 2010
West & Central Africa Com is the annual event dedicated to the communications markets of West & Central Africa

Mr Abdourahim Agne, Minister of Telecommunications, ICT, and Transports of Senegal, has confirmed the Ministry's support for the annual West & Central Africa Com congress, which will take place in Dakar, Senegal, on 16-17 June 2010. 

West & Central Africa Com is the annual event dedicated to the communications markets of West & Central Africa, and has become the meeting place for operators (fixed, mobile, wireless), ISPs, regulators, investors and vendors from the region to debate the future of telecommunications in their markets and to meet their peers. After two years during which the congress was held in Abuja, Nigeria, it is coming back to Senegal, one of the most dynamic markets in the region and a great location for both business and leisure.

Minister Agne will chair the opening keynote of the congress and will give an official address on the Senegalese government's objective of creating an environment that is favourable to the sustainable development of telecommunications and ICT. In a message of support, he says: "The telecommunications and ICT sector is experiencing important changes, from the point of view of competition, of technologies and of services to end-users. More than ever, the market's stakeholders have to conduct a dialogue, in order to ensure sustained growth in the sector and to integrate it to the economies of the countries. That is why the Ministry of Telecommunications, ICT and Transports support the WACA event held in Dakar, and encourages debate between operators, regulators, investors and vendors active in the region." 

Over 700 participants are expected in Dakar for West & Central Africa Com, representing the entire telecommunications sector

Over 700 participants are expected in Dakar for West & Central Africa Com, representing the entire telecommunications sector. The event comprises a high-level conference with 25 C-level representatives of operators, including: MTN Group, Zain Group, Etisalat Nigeria, Kasapa (Ghana), Lintel Group (Africell), Connecteo (Senegal), Zoom Mobile (Nigeria ), Comium (Côte d'Ivoire), Orange Cameroon, Intercel Guinea, Togocel, Azur Gabon and others. Over two days, they will discuss operators' strategies, new technologies and international projects to offer broadband, value-added services, marketing strategies and business models. 

In addition, an exhibition will showcase the latest innovations from over 50 telecoms companies present in the region, and will offer many opportunities to network, share ideas and make business contacts. Debates will take place in English and French, with simultaneous translation.